Rolling Steel: NATO's Self-Propelled Guns (Concord 7512)

MINI COLOR SERIES I

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Carl Schulze & Walter Biihm

INI COLOR SERIES

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7512

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Text & Photos bv Carl Schulze & Waller Btihm Edited bv James R. Hill Illustrations bv Hubert Cance

.! rst steps for research and development of -_ : 000 can be traced back to November 1987. - Italy, Great Britain and Germany canceled :-e ration on the SP-70 self-propelled howitzer : Great Britain developed the AS 90 howitzer :-j uced this weapon system to the British irs . The German government decided to - a front-driven 155mm howitzer as a ~ ent for the aged M109A3GE self-propelled The M 109A3GE was a German ~. ent of the US MI09A2/A3 series, but the ': ~s ign represented the standards of the decade =- !960 and 1970.

The main requests for capabilities in the new PzH 2000 were as follo ws: - maximum range up to 30 kil ometers (19 miles) using the standard NATO 155mm projectile - 60 projectiles in "on board" storage - automatic guiding of the main gun - automatic loading mechanis - reduction of the crew to five soldiers - NBC p rotection for the crew compa rtment and ammunition storage - independent vehicle navigation sys tem - independent operation on the battlefield supported by a vehicle's own ballistic fire control computer.

Development and Characteristics

The PzH 2000 needs only 30 seconds from movement to readiness for fire. After a fire order is -.: in 1986, the German government awarded The emblem of the Bundeswehr's received, eight rounds can be fired in one minute. The .::t for the development and construction of a Artillerieschule at Rilchenberg Kaserne fir st three ro unds leave the gun within 10 seconds. ':': :Jm self-propeUed howitzer weapon system to in Idar- Oberstein. This emblem is T he procedure to prepare the vehicle for a change of -e nan consortia. The first consortium was affixed to the front of the hull of a PzH position requires less than 30 second s. A well-trained . . 'ord with the firms Wegmann and MaK; the 2000. (Walter Bohm) crew needs only two minutes total from driving to preparation for fire, fire, and leav ing the position. :onsortium was Gruppe Siid with Krau ss­ Thi s quick movement makes it very difficult for hostile artillery radar or ~i1 ein metall and KUKA. Based on the Bundeswehr requirements =-_ : al efforts, a new program called "Panzerhaubitze 2000" was forward observers to di scover the PzH 2000 positions. - . 1987. The Nord consortium deve loped a trial vehicle called the .:...- which was based on the proven Leopard I MBT chassis. The Slid In 1994, intensive testing and troop trials took place in Germany and ~ m developed the "PT 01" prototy pe, which was based on in foreign countries. Only one year later the PzH 2000 was ready for , of the Leopard 2 chassis. introduction. In March 1996, Wegmann was awarded the order for an initial batch of 185 PzH 2000 vehicles. In mid-1998, the first vehicles were , 90, these two vehicles were intensively tested, and the "PT 02" delivered to the German Bundeswehr. The last ve hicles of the first batch . .'.i nner of the co mpetition. The German government selected the were handed over to Bundeswehr units in 2002. Due to the hi gh price and ~ lnd placed orders to Wegmann/MaK for four identical tri al the reduced number of sys tems, only the Bundeswehr KRK units and some : These vehicles were built and modified permanently according to few HYK units received the Panzerhaubitze 2000. The first 185 systems ehr requirements between 1991 and 1993. In the early 1990s, the were issued to the Arlillerieschu/e (School of Artillery) based in Id ar - (If a vehicle and wea pon system with ord nance and electronic Oberstein; Panzerartillerielehrbatallion 345 based in Kusel; PzArtLBtl 95 based in Munster; pzArtBtl 405 based in Dabel; and pzArtBtl 115 based 7 ' £ was a significant advanta ge and a technological leap into the . . ~u ry. in Neu nburg v. Waldo

- -e ~ the tri-national SP-70 progra m was

- ;998, the Panzerartilleriebataillonen of the German Bundeswehr their first PzH 2000s. A total of 185 Panzerhaubitze 2000 will the aged M109A3GE. The first PzH 2000 vehicles were delivered to - - .9rieschule based in Idar-Oberstein for troop training. Notice the =- -:9 in size between the huge PzH 2000 and the M109A3GE. The PzH . =·Quld be in Bundeswehr inventory for decades to come. This new ~ : - system has become the backbone of the artillery fire support in the - =- Army Some of the German M109A3GE will receive a last upgrade .' 109A3GEA2 standard, which will make them usable for few more ~ .'1alter Bohm) -o -j

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This PzH 2000 of the Artillerieschule at Idar-Oberstein is fitted with a special gunfire simulator that allows fire missions to be simulated without driving to the range. The crew members of the new PzH 2000 were trained at the Artillerieschule. The Gruppe Weiterentwicklung (Section Development), as a part of the Artillerieschule, is working continuously on upgrade and research programs for the German Bundeswehr's Artillerietruppe. (Walter Bohm)

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The vehicles of the first batch of PzH 2000 were delivered to the Artillerieschule, HVK Verbande (German Bundeswehr main defense forces) and KRKVerbande (German Bundeswehr crisis reaction forces). As the first regular unit, Panzerartillerielehrbataillon 345 (PzArtLBtI 345), which is based in Kusel, received their first PzH 2000 in 1999. The markings on the hull of this PzH 2000 are, from left to right: Military Load Class (MLC), Bundeswehr vehicle registration number, and tactical sign of 2nd Lehrbatterie, PzArtLBtI 345. (Walter B6hm)

One of the main requirements for the new German howitzer was increased range of fire. There are only two possible ways to increase _ range of a weapon when the caliber is standardized: rocket-assis~ projectiles or a longer gun barrel. The Bundeswehr decided on the Ie.:..:

option. Now the PzH 2000 rifled 155mm L52 ordnance is 8 meters (26 fEe:.

long. (Walter B6hm)

Hull and Chassis The PzH 2000 is front driven and has a torsion-bar suspen
Thrret. Ordnance and Ammunition The main annament of the PzH 2000 is the Rlleinmetall-built, 52­ caliber (8-meter [26-ft]) long, rifled 155mm L52 howitzer. Its chrome plated barrel provides the main gu n with a long-wearing life. The gun barrel is fitted with a slot-type muzzle brake and a bore evacuator. The gun can also be used in a direct firefight. The tutTet can traverse a complete 360 degrees, and firing is possible in all turret positions. The maximum elevation of the gun is up to + 65 degrees. Using the Modulares Treibladungssystem (MTLS), the gun's range is up to 30 km (19 miles) with the standard Ll5A2 projectile and up to 40 km (25 miles) with extended range ammunition. For anti-aircraft and defense purposes, a 7.62mm Fla MG3 is mounted in front of the left hatch on the roof of the turret. Eig ht smoke dischargers are located on the front of the tun'et near the main gun.

The driver is located in the front of the hull right beneath the engi:;., Behind the engine is located the 60-round magazine with the autom a:' loader. The PzH 2000 has a fuel storage capacity of up to 1000 liters C' gall ons) of diesel fuel, which gives the vehicle a range of 420 km C:' miles) in good conditions.

The huge turret is made of armored steel plates and designed in accordance with the shape of European railway tunnel s. The inside of the tUITet and hull is covered with a liner to protect against artillery fragments. The charge storage area is separate from the crew compartm ent in the rear of the tUITet. Main electronic systems like the fire control sys tem an d the gun control system with the added tracking and observing systems are located in the tu !Tet.

Summary The PzH 2000 became the standard self-propelled howitzer for Gelman Bundeswehr's Kriesenreaktionskriifte (KRK), or crisis reac ti force . The enormous growth potential, the advanced tec hnologi es and t:­ new conception give the PzH 2000 the capability to fulfill all requireme r of an up-to-date artillery weapon system. The PzH 2000 is ready for challenges on the future digitalized and three-dim ensional battlefield.

The commander has at his disposal the PERI-R 19 periscope, a PERI­ RTNL80 traversable periscope with laser rangefinder and passive night sights. The gunner uses the Panzerzieljemrohr PzFTN80, the vehicle navigation system and the MICMOC ballistic fire control computer for ca lculating the fire orders. On the roof of the turret there are mounts to fit additional reactive armor elements. The crew can quickly attach these elemen ts usin g only the vehicle 's own tools. These reactive armor elements protect against bomblet ammunition, but they are mou nted only in the event of war.

In internation al use, the PzH 2000 is in first place; more and more has become a standard artillery system of the European forces. In Jll.. 2001, Greece ordered 24 PzH 2000 from Wegmann. The armies of both tl:.. Netherlands and Italy decided to introduce the PzH 2000 into their artille r units. In October 200 I , Sweden began testing the PzH 2000 in a coas t defense role and for their ann y's artillery.

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::ombination of the new L52 gun barrel and the Modulares Treibladungsssystem (M TLS modular charge system) increased the range from 30 (19 miles) with the L 15A2 standard projectile up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) using extended range ammunition. The red and white over-wide alert "re opened during road marches on civil roads. (Walter 8ohm)

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In contrast to the welded aluminum construction of the M109A6 Paladin, the PzH 2000 is made with steel plates. The huge turret has a storage area in the rear for the extremely flammable and explosive charges that is completely separate from the crew compartment. (Walter 8ohm)

The vehicle commander is located behind the PERI-RTNL 80, E loader 1 (Ladekanonier 1) is positioned beside him. Loader 1 is respons ~ for the MG3 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun. Separated from the Qi­ crew members, the driver is located in the right front of the hull. (Wa 8ohm)

The huge turret of the PzH 2000 is positioned very I~ in relation to the rear of the hUll. This reduces the project: of the gun barrel and allows the crew to enter the vehi: · through the rear door. (Walter 8ohm)

A PzH 2000 : 2.Batterie, PzArtLE 345 takes up a posilic­ in the assembly are= during ExerciE ; "Westpfalz" in Janua ­ 2000. The howitzer ..: positioned under tt , trees and covered wi:' camouflage nets :: hide it from aircraft. Th Ladekanonier (Ioade­ guards the vehicle wi: ' the anti-aircr&­ machine gun. (WaitE 8ohm)

- -:' ~l e introduction of the PzH 2000 into the Bundeswehr artillery units, the aged M113A2 G OPTRONIC used for forward observation will be replaced _.:; -aded and modified Leopard 1A5 MBT With the intended introduction of the modified Leopard 1A5 for the forward observer role, the forward -'-0 ;olill have the same mobility by night and day as other modern mechanized units. This will be combined with much better armor protection, in .: :.he light armored aluminum-built M113A2 G OPTRONIC. The target screening capability is the same as the old M113-based observer vehicle, -;, -ew Leopard 1A5-based forward observer vehicle, the crew can control a greater variety of fire missions. By 1999 two trial vehicles were built. The _-gspanzer Artillierie Leopard (BeopPzArtLeop) shown here carries the tactical markings of 4.UPzArtLBtI 345. It was photographed during troop _ - -2 a Bundeswehr exercise at CMTC Hohenfels. (Walter Bohm)

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eriebataliion

3.8 atterie, 405.

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-:311 405, which belongs to

=­ - ==swehr's KRK units, is - :: 3.bel, Germany. PzArtBtI _-:er order of PzGrenBrig '3- : ,Ienburg." The 3200 - "::; ; ' ? zGren Brigade 40 were 1 different towns in =--.: Jrg-Vorpommern (the German Democratic and Niedersachsen :; ;; -many). Thus, PzGren --= ':'0 is a symbol of the =~. deutschen Einheit (army -~:: 3ermany). (Walter Bohm)

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The PzH 2000 powerpack is a combination of the Typ 881 engine L by MTU and the HSWL transmission built by Renk. The MTU MT 881 k 500 engine is a development based on the proven 837 series eng" (Leopard 1 MBT engine) and 873 series engine (Leopard 2 MBT engir ~ (Walter B6hm)

The powerpack of a PzH 2000 is lifted out after all the conneC1C between the Renk transmission and the drive sprockets have be.;' unfastened. These connectors are fitted with a moveable sleeve to make easier to remove. The powerpack is placed on the front of the hull beside :­ driver's position. (Walter B6hm)

A Bergepanzer 3 Bullel of PzBt! 84 lifts out the complete PzH 2000 powerpack using its 30-ton-capacity turnable crane. As of 2002, artillery un-=: eqUipped the PzH 2000 still had the lighter Bergepanzer 2 Standard in their inventory In the near future these units will re-equip with the more power. Bergepanzer 3 Bullel. (Walter B6hm)

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-=:e. The screw mounts can be used to affix additional reactive armor .:: :0 provide better protection for the crew and ammunition. (Walter

Close-up photo of the PzH 2000's gun travel lock. The hydraulically operated gun travel lock can fasten and unfasten by remote control under armor protection of the turret. While the vehicle is traveling, the barrel is fixed in the 12 o'clock position. The rectangular plate on the gun's front end is part of the muzzle velocity measuring system. (Walter 8ohm)

-- :; _52 gun's barrel is chrome plated to extend its life. The 155mm L52 _ .::; of the PzH 2000 can be used in both towed and self-propelled _ = '2 The barrel is connected to the breechblock by an interrupted • ich makes it possible to quickly remove the barrel from the outside . . : smantling the whole weapon system. (Walter 8ohm)

- --unition ready for use. To give the PzH 2000 a high tactical ./ on the battleground, the howitzer has racks for 60 155mm :;:; and the corresponding 288 MTLS (Modu lares Treibladungs charges stored in an automatically operating magazine. - _- ":m for the 7. 62mm anti-aircraft machine gun, spare smoke grenade ';"' : and ammunition for the crew's weapons complete the inventory of -~ =-munition. (Walter 8ohm) ~-

155mm smoke/fog projectiles (or use with the PzH 2000. At the time of this writing a special smoke/fog grenade was under development. The so­ called Multispektral-Nebe l-Granate has the ability to disturb optical observation, as well as radio, infrared or short wave sensors. (Walter 8ohm)

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Today the MAN 10tgl 8x8 truck used for transporting ammunition to the PzH 2000. Fitted with a small loading crane, the MAN 10tgl has an empty weight of 15.4 tons and a loading capacity up to 10 tons. In the future, the PzH 2000 units will be issued the new heavy MAN 15tgl 8x8 MULTI truck as the standard ammunition carrier. (Walter Bohm)

The automatic electrically driven projectile-loading system allows loading and firing in every turret position. The ordnance can be loadeo matter what the turret traverse or gun elevation. The magazinE constructed to keep all of the 60 projectiles on board. (Walter Bohm)

In case of a malfunction of the fully automatic loader and systems, all operations can be performed manually by the crew's loaders. Under normal conditions, when all systems are operable, the c:~ can rearm all 60 of the projectiles and charges in less than 12 minutes. 7­ leaves the two loaders with only one job: to put the projectiles on the endl'~ conveyor so they can be automatically transported into the magazine. vehicle should suffer a breakdown, the magazine can be unloaded the sc. ­ way (Walter Bohm)

Here a PzH 2000 deploys to a firing position area (FSR-Feuersteliungsraum) at the training area at Klietz, near Berlin, Germany The FSR fa' Panzerartilieriebatterie (howitzer battery) can be as vast as three square kilometers. This FSR is normally located 8-10 kilometers (5-6 miles) behind the 5--: called VRV-Vorderer Rand der Verteidigung (line of defense) . In the FSR there are various fire positions for the two Panzerartilieriezug (two howitzer platoor;~ (Walter Bohm)

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- .;: :JzH 2000 can fire when the ordnance has an elevation from -2.5 degrees up to +65 degrees. Loading and firing can occur independently of the - -] of the turret. From moving to firing, a well-trained crew requires only 30 seconds. (Walter 8ohm)

-e.haubitze 2000, 2nd Company, Panzerartillerieiehrbafaillon 345, Baumholder ranges 2002

=-;:.- zerhaubitze 2000 of 2nd Company, Panzerartillerielehrbataillon 345 seen during the "System Artillerie " demonstration on the - - : j er ranges in autumn 2002. The red flag mounted on the turret indicates that the gun is loaded and ready to fire. Only markings visible -.=- :;:srman national identification sign, an iron cross on the turret side. The gun is painted in the standard NATO three color camouflage

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"Firepower." The PzH 2000 operates in the FSR on the platoon level with three howitzers. When the guns receive the order for a fire mission, they leave their assembly areas and attack the hostile targets depending on the intentions of the Brigadeartilieriefuhrer (leader of artillery units supporting a brigade). (Walter 8ohm)

The PzH 2000 howitzer can fire eight projectiles a mere 30 seconds after it reaches the firing position, the first three rounds in less than 10 seconds. One possible scenario for a PzH 2000 platoon is to pin down hostile forces with their fire to give their own mechanized units time to rearrange and counterattack. (Walter 8ohm)

--=- a day on the training range, c=.

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the crew has to clean the L52 gun barrel in the usual fashion. The PzH 2000 has a crew of five: commander, driver, Jader 1, and loader 2. In contrast to the aged M109A3GE with its crew of eight soldiers, the up-to-date equipment of the PzH 2000 does a better " reduced crew. (Walter Bohm)

Following the exercise, the howitzers are cleaned of mud and dust. The Technische Dienst (periodical technical check of all main vehicle and weapon systems) became necessary before the vehicles were loaded onto railway freight cars for the return to the unit's base. The PzH 2000 chassis has some elements of the Leopard 1 and 2 MBT. Four return rollers stabilize the tracks. (Walter Bohm)

=sments of 3.Batterie, PzArtBtI 405 travel ~

'.ay carriages near Klietz. The inside of - _ '- st and hull of the PzH 2000 is covered by -:C ' :nat protects against small arms fire and .c ':/ fragments. The huge turret is designed "' .-:Jrdance with the shape of European ~ iunnels, which means the PzH 2000 can -=~sported without complications on all _ :::'3an main railway networks. (Walter

The units of Panzerarlilieriebalailion 2 belonged to Blauland (Blue Force) during "Hessischer Lowe 2002," They provided fire support for the blue elements during defensive and attack operations, During the Kampf mit dem Feuer battle tactics, the Blue Force's artillery elements were used for firing on Rolland (Red Force) artillery and troop concentrations deep in hostile territory (Walter Bohm) Emblem of pzArtBtI 405,

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.: Panzerarlilieriebalailion 2 received the first ,= 2000 vehicles in mid-2001 , The PzArtBtI 2, whic­ under order of Panzergrenadierbrigade 14, participc ­ with two fully equipped batteries in Brigaderahmenubung (CFX) "Hessischer Lowe 2C: _ This exercise was held in January 2002 in the E, around Goltingen, Einbeck Paderborn and Warb_ (Walter Bohm)

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o ..::. 1993, the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery was the first unit of :: ,-a is h Army to receive the new AS 90 Self-Propelled Howitzer. Since -=uc the AS 90 entered service with the British Army, it has replaced . . :ire fleet of older systems, namely the 155mm M 109 and the 105mm ::. Today, the AS 90 is the only tracked self-propelled howitzer in the rmy's inventory.

Development HistoQ' Je\'e!opment of the AS 90 began as a private venture in the late It came about during the production of the FH 70 155mm towed

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howitzer when Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Limited (VSEL, later Marconi Marine, Land and Nava l Systems, which today belongs to BAE Systems RO Defence) di scovered a need among the world's armed forces for new self-propelled artillery systems. This resulted in the GBT 155 turret, which used as its weapon system the FH 70 155mm ordnance, which was developed by Germany, Italy and Great Britain. The turret was designed to be mounted on various existing main battle tank chassis, such as on th e T-72, and therefore be a cheap option for countries with a small defense budget seeking a modern artillery system. In I 982, the GBT turret was revealed to the public for the first time. Using the GBT tUiTet with a modified larger turret ring, VSEL conducted follow-on studies that led to the design of the AS 90. In March 1985, the project defi nition for the AS 90 reached its final status, and the first prototype was shown at the Blitish Army Equipment Exhibition (B AEE) in Jun e 1986. That same year the United Kingdom withdrew from the intemational 155mm SP 70 project, which presented the British Army with the need for a new option for the requested new artillery system in order to replace the 155mm Ml 09 and the 105mm Abbot. Shortly after the BAEE, the British Army began extensive u'ials that resulted in the Live Crew Clearance Certification of the Ordnance Board for the AS 90 in 1987.

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view of an AS 90 of the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery that in the summer of 1993. The NBC and air conditioning systems are _ visible on the rear of the turret. The three large storage boxes on the .0 ,,-e for storing the crewmembers' belongings, and another two are -:-sj on the left side of the turret so each crewmember can use one .-0 >,ely (Carl Schulze) ~,?9n

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Between March and June 1987, during another package of extensive tri als, th e AS 90 traveled over 3000km (1863 miles) and fired approximately 1500 rounds without a major failure . In June 1988, the British Army selected the AS 90 and awarded a contract to VSEL for 300 million GBP for l79 AS 90s. Between 1989 and 1991, the Royal School of Artillery conducted additional reliability-and-growth uials dUling which the two existing prototypes traveled over 28,000km (17,388 miles) and fired more than 6100 rounds. In May 1992, the AS 90 was officially accepted for service in the British Army. By late 1992, the first production vehicles were delivered to the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, which

thG lsi RGgimGnl ROY811-forsG ArlillGry W8S IhG fir.sl 8rlillGry unit of IhG British Army to rG8ch opGr8tion81.s18tu.s with l/iG AS gO sGlf-propGIIGG I-fGm AS gO,s IJG/onging to tfiG rGgimGnt r8CG ilito pr.JSiti()1i rJurilig 81i GXGrcisG /J1i lfiG Sfili.slJury Plfiin tfifit ,SfiliiG yGfir. FitlGr) with fhG Aut(Jli(Jmous ~'io n 8nd Gun L8Jting SystGm (AGLS), IhG AS rJO C8n OpGr8tG ilicJGpGIiGGlitly (Jf GxtGrn81 ,sightilig rGfGrGIiCG,S, S(J rpm positions nGGG not to IJG prGpfimcJ - ~ Ih G gun,s mO\lG iii. (C8rl ScfiulzG) ~ ,r.

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During a demonstration an AS 90 of A Battery (The Chestnut Troop) of the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery demonstrates the capability of firinr;; ~ three-round burst in under ten seconds. A pair of AS 90s has the ability to deliver a payload of 261kg (576 Ib) of HE ammunition on a single target ai , distance of up to 24.7km (15 miles) in under ten seconds. Other rates of fire are: - Intensive fire: Firing six rounds per minute for up to three minutes. - Sustained fire: Firing two rounds a minute for a longer period. Note the black stripe in front of the muzzle; it is the round just leaving the gun. (Carl Schulze)

by the summer of 1993 was the first operational AS 90 artillery regiment in the British AImy.

steel annor that can withstand the impact of infantry weapons' fire of up ­ 14.5mm and shell fragments from 152mm artillery shells.

Eight AS 90s, one of which was fitted with a Royal Ordnance Nottingham 155mm 52-caliber barrel, underwent a five-w eek In Service Reliability Demonstration (ISRD) in 1994. rSRD simulated a peIiod of 80 battlefield days in which all guns together traveled 6000krn (3726 miles) and fired a total of 11,2000 rounds. During these trials, the 52-caliber barrel proved its reliability and enhancement for the future.

The powerpack is situated at the front right of the chassis, and rl:.: driver, who directs the vehicle by means of a steeling wheel, is position e~ at the front left. The powerpack consists of the Cummins VTA 903T 6f. 90-degree, V8 , four-stroke, liquid-cooled, diesel engine coupled with tLc ZF LSG 2000 fully automatic transmission, which offers four forward ac two reverse gears. Close to the main engine is a diesel-powered auxiliar: unit that allows the turret sys tems to operate and conduct fire mi ss ior without running the main engine.

In 1995, the last AS 90 left the manufacturer's plant at Barrow-in­ Furness , Cumblia and was handed over to the Blitish Army, while a couple of AS 90s remained with Marconi Marine, Land and Naval Systems for further trials. Since its introduction , the AS 90 Self-Propelled Howitzer has not taken part in a major conflict. However, AS 90 batteries of the Royal Artillery have been deployed in support of the British Army with IFORJSFOR in Bosnia since 1995 and with KFOR in Kosovo si nce 1999. In addition, AS 90s saw action during various exercises in Canada, Poland, Germany, and Oman.

The fighting compartment is situated behind the engine compartme r· in the rear of the vehicl e. It can be entered through the large one-piece reu: door that is also used for ammunition resupply. The turret is mounte.:. above the fighting compartment on a tun·et ling that has a 2 .7-meter (<J­ foot) diameter. The AS 90's running gear consists of six road wheels 0­ either side of the chassis with an idler at the rear and a drive sprocket at t1-:­ front. A high degree of cross-country capability is available through th,~ use of a hydropneumatic suspension. The vehicle is fitted with a Dhie double pin track.

Vebicle Description The AS 90 is a fully tracked, self-propelled howitzer that the British Army uses in the Divisional Close Artillery Support role. The crew consists of the driver, commander (No. I), a gun layer (No.3), and two loaders (No.2 and No.4). Usually one or two additional gunners are added to the crew in order to ensure that enough ammunition is ready during fire missions. The hull and turret of the AS 90 are constructed from all-welded

The layer is seated to the right in the front of the turret,with th:: commander seated behind him. The loaders are positioned on the left han':: side. The commander has a cupola above his position , and an air sentr: hatch is situated on the left side of the turret roof. Next to this a 7.62mu.: GPMG is mounted on a pintle mount for air and close defense. The laye:

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~]le running gear of the AS 90 consists of 12 double roadwheels, six on each side and each with a : ;:meumatic suspension unit. A drive sprocket is situated at the front and an idler is at the rear. The road wheels = -"de out of lightweight aluminum. Since a hydropneumatic suspension is used, there is no need for a false floor, - ~ - is necessary when using a torsion bar suspension. As a result, there is more headroom in the firing ::s.rtment and the howitzer has a lower silhouette. (Carl Schulze)

- \erse the turret either electrically or, in an emergency, manually. _ ;:{oyal Ordnance l55mm 39-caliber gun (with its breech , recoil system ..Jading system) is mounted in the front of the turret between the layer ~ -.e loaders. The recoil system of the gun consists of two diametrically ·"d buffers and a recuperator that together allow a maximum recoil of r:...tll (31.5 inches). The AS 90 can fire a three-round burst in under 10 - J s, provide intensive fire for three minutes by firing six rounds per :c. or provide sustained fire with two rounds a minute for a longer - ~ . Its 155mm 39-caliber barrel manufactured by Royal Ordnance =:gham can fire all standard 155mm rounds in use within NATO.

Battery badge of A Battery (The Chestnut Troop) of the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery seen on the battery's AS 90s. (Carl Schulze)

brought in line with the breach, the round is rammed by means of a flick rammer and the charge is inserted by hand before the breach is closed. Once loaded, the gun can be fired either by the layer or the commander.

Fitted with the Autonomous navigation and Gun Laying System (AGLS), the AS 90 can operate independently of external sighting references. The center of the AGLS is the ring laser gyroscope technology based Dynamic Reference Unit (DRU), which is housed by the Initial Navigation System (INS ), The INS is linked to the odometer that is situated in the left sprocket, and therefore provides accurate information on the actual position of the gun. This data is combined with the information received via data communication through the VRC 351 radio of the vehicle and then transferred into the Gun Display Unit (GDU), a receiver terminal of BATES (Battle Field Artillery Target Engagement System). They automatically provide the crew with a fire commando consisting of bearing, elevation and required charge. All main turret functions are controlled by the Turret Control Computer (TCC), which can automatically lay the gun onto the required bearing and elevation to allow rapid target engagement. Mounted in the rear of the turret are an NBC protection system and an air conditioning system that enable the gun to fire under NBC conditions .

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the Briti sh Army, the following ammunition types are available: .(is (Smoke), OM 106 (Illumination), L 18 (Marker), L 20 (ERBS - - let), L 15 (HE), L 21 (HE), M 107 (HE) , M 483 (Bomblet), and XM - -:CM/Jammer). Using standard ammunition, a range of 24.7km (15 can be achieved, which can be extended to 30km (19 miles) when ~ . projectiles are used. In the future, a range of 30km will be possible . , :andard ammunition with the 52-caliber barrel, while the maximum ;~ \\ith assisted projectiles will be 40km (25 miles). .!' total of 48 shells and charges are carried in the vehicle, 31 of which

-0red in the magazine in the turret, while the remaining shells are in brackets in the fighting compartment. The magazine in the rear of ~let is divided into four compartments fitted with a motor that moves ' -:--Juired round into position so that it can be pulled manuaJly onto the ·~a nsfer arm. The shell transfer arm is now automatically realigned to .\ ith the elevating mass, and the shell is driven sideways onto the , - ,; tray by a motor-driven shell clamp. After the loading tray is

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Picture of the split-block breach, loading tray and shell rammer. Together with the balancing gear, the loading tray and shell rammer are the only hydraulically operated parts in the turret. The remaining systems, like the traverse and elevation system, are electrically operated. Both can be operated at a speed of 10° a second. During fire missions, the shell transfer arm is manually loaded with a shell from the magazine and then automatically realigned to lock with the elevating mass. The shell is driven sideways by a motor-driven shell clamp on the loading tray After the loading tray is brought into line with the breach, the round is rammed by the flick rammer and the charge is inserted by hand before the breach is closed. (Carl Schulze)

View from the fighting compartment through the crawling tunnel into t, ,,­ driver's position at the front left of the vehicle. The driver can enter position via a single-piece hatch above him. The hatch can be locked ope' for driving in the "head out" position. When driving under hatch, the dri\ ~ relies on a single periscope that can be changed into a night vision device Usually the driver is also the 21C (second in command) of the gun crew, w,~' the rank of a Lance Bombardier. During fire missions he commands IF:;' gunners working outside of the gun, ensuring that the right type and corre.­ amount of ammunition is ready (Carl Schulze)

r-,

The AS 90 Artillery Regiments

40th Regiment Royal Artillery base at Topcliff, belonging to Mechanised Brigade

The British Anny received a total of 179 AS 90s for the price of 300 million GBP. Once the ongoing reorgani zation of the Blitish Artillery has finished, 144 of these guns will be distributed among six operational artillery regiments. Three of these belong to the 1st (UK) Armoured Division in Germany, and the other three to the 3rd (UK) Division in Great Britain. The following regiments field the AS 90:

Each of these regiments will consist of a HQ and Support Battery an.. three gun battelies. In peacetime, the gun batteries can field six AS 90' while in wartime two additional guns will bring the battery's firepower l( eight guns. The additional guns are kept by the regiments and are store>: following proper procedures for care and preservation. Another uni: fielding the AS 90 is the 14th Regiment Royal Artillery, which is based i:­ Larkhill in Great Britain and acts as a training establishment for the Roy a.. Artillery. In this unit, gunners from privates to officers are trained in the a­ of gunnery.

I st (UK) Armoured Division in Germany 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery based in Hohne, belonging to 7 Almoured Bligade 4th Regiment Royal Artillery based in Osnabrlick, belonging to 4 Armoured Brigade 26th Regiment Royal Al1illery based in Giiters10h, belonging to 20 Armoured Brigade

In addition to all other artillery systems introduced into the Briti ~l: Army, the unit fields twelve AS 90s for training purposes. BAE System~ RO Defence maintains another four AS 90s for further development anc evolution trials, as weJI as for demonstrations. Included among these is th" modified Desert AS 90. Of the remaining 12 AS 90s, most are used a: BATUS (British Almy Training Unit Suffield), while the rest are kept at " depot for war reserve.

3rd (UK) Division in Great Britain Ist Regiment Royal Horse Attillery based in Tidworth , belonging to 19th Mechani sed Brigade 19th Regiment Royal Artillery based in Colchester, belonging to 12 Mechanised Brigade

18

The Future of the AS 90. Vehicle Evolution. Variants and AS 90-Based vehicles At the time of this writing, the British Army is the only user of the AS . -, self-propelled howitzer. In 1998, the MOD awarded BAE Sy stems RO ~ fence a contract to upgrade 96 of the 179 AS 90s delivered to the Royal .....-tillery with a 155mm152-caliber Extended Range Ordnance IModular '::-:Jarge System (ERO/MCS). The first upgraded AS 90 was to go into .:~ice by 2003. The new 52-caliber barrel, which was to be fitted on at - { level, increases the effective range of the AS 90 to 40km (25 miles). -=-~e new barrel will use the existing muzzle break, fume ex tractor and - each mechanism. The MCS will be manufactured in South Africa by -":Dchem Division of Denal and contain a Bi-Modular Charge System :;\1CS). The M 90 BCMS will consist of the M 91 A 1 low-zone and M - =.-\ 1 high-zone charges. In 1993, the AS 90 was demon strated at the US Army Researc h --"oratory at Aberdeen Prov ing ground using the Magnavox Howitzer -:-:c-Control Computer (HFCC) . With the HFCC, the AS 90 was able to -:--:: rate fully autonomously on the battlefield. In addition, it was "'=ffionstratecl that the change from the 39 ..caliber banel to the 52-caliber ~,el took only 75 minutes. For export sales, BAE Systems provides a ~ ified version of the AS 90 called the Desert AS 90. The following ,;{\Cms of the Desert AS 90 are improved: Engine cooling system, air --.:ditioning system, transmissio n oil cooling, transmission gear range, ~ auxiliary power unit cooling system. In addition, a new track was fitted _ _ solar reflecting paint and a thermal cover for the tunet roof were ·-v!ied. This close up shows the primer magazine that is inserted into the split­ .:: :::k breach. Twelve primer rounds can be held in the magazine. The = o-::trically initiated percussion firing system mechanism can use the : ' i dard DM191A 1 or the US M 282 ingniter tubes. (Carl Schulze)

The first live firing of AS 90 self-propelled howitzers in an operational theater took place in Bosnia on 28 February 1996 and was conducted by guns G the 26th Regiment Royal Artillery The shots were not fired in anger, however, but to open the IFOR ranges at Glamoc. By the time of writing, the AS 90 ~ operational deployment list includes Bosnia and Kosovo, but no shot has yet been fired on enemy positions. (Carl Schulze)

The Desert AS 90 underwent intensive trials in Duba i, Kuwait , and Saudi Arabia. However, Poland is the only nation that cunentl y has ordered the AS 90. In \999, BAE Systems signed a license manufacturing agreement with Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) in Poland for the production of 72 Desert AS 90 turrets, called "Braveheart," which are due to be mounted on a locally made chassis built by OBRUM. The first two tune ts were built

in the UK by BAE, while the rest will be manu factured in Poland. BAE Systems RO Defence has also designed a Repair and Recovery Vehicle, a, well as two different versions of an Ammunition Resupply Vehicle, base": on the AS 90 chas sis. None of these designs has yet reached prototy p ~ status. In addition, the Terrier FCEV (Future Combat Engineer Vehicl e I. which will replace the Combat Engineer Tractor of the Royal Engineers, i ~ based on the AS 90 chassi s.

These three AS 90s of B Battery, 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery were photographed in the summer of 1996 near Vitez. 1 RHA provided thE artillery component for the British-led MND SW and, after the 26th Regimem Royal Artillery, was the second unit equipped with the AS 90, which deployed with IFOR in Bosnia . The guns were rotated through the whole area of responsibility of the MND SW in previously reconnoitered positions, which were mostly situated close to public roads in order to underline the "Show Force" policy of IFOR. Note the battery badge painted to the side oi the barrel base. (Carl Schulze)

The crew enters the fighting compartment of the AS 90 through a large rear door that is also used for ammunition resupply and which may be seen open in the picture. Left and right of the door on the outside are situated two integral containers in which supplies and equipment can be stored. Seen in 1996 in Bosnia with IFOR, this gun belongs to the 26th Regiment Royal Artillery (Carl Schulze)

20

Inside the AS 90 turret, the layer (No.3) is seated to the right front, and the commander (No.1) is located behind him. Behind the NO.1 can be seen the Gun Display Unit (GDU), a receiver terminal of BATES (Battle Field Artillery Target Engagement System). The GDU automatically provides the crew with a fire command consisting of bearing, elevation and required charge. All main turret functions are controlled by the Turret Control Computer (TCC). which can be seen in front of the NO.3. (Carl Schulze)

Here an AS 90 is seen during the first live firing at the Glamoc ranges - 30snia on 28 February 1996. The gun belongs to the 26th Regiment Royal - '- " ery Behind the gun two gunners wait for orders to move spare _-l1unition into the gun. Usually the crew of an AS 90 consists of at least :? soldiers: the driver, commander (No.1), gun layer (No.3), and two ~=jers (No.2 and No.4). But in operational environments there sometimes _ " two more loaders who carry ammunition from outside the gun into the :; - ing compartment. Often these men are controlled by the driver, who also = lhe gun's 21C and, therefore, is responsible that the correct spare _ -l1unition is available in adequate amounts for subsequent missions. (Carl : .-lulze)

In this picture the only AS 90 to be :;:-vloyed with the 40th Regiment Royal - -.:.J/ery during Exercise "Ulan Eagle -c- in Poland crosses an AVLB bridge. -g two banks of four smoke ;;hargers are visible situated to the -; ': and right of the gun in front of the _~et. The track of the AS 90, which is - -;signed by the German company : "hi, is of the double pin design. The : th between the tracks is 2248mm - 3 feet). and the AS 90 has a ground - "3.rance of 410mm (16 inches). (Carl ~:~ 'Jlze)

Close-up of the insignia of B Battery, 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, which was seen on the unit's AS 90s in Bosnia in 1996. (Carl Schulze)

Here a gun troop of one of the batteries of the 26th Regiment Royal Artillery is seen in a "Show Force" firing position somewhere in Bosnia in early 199: (Carl Schulze) . ",.l' .~ . ~

,

~

AS 90 of B Battery, 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (1 RHA), Bosnia 1996 155mm AS 90 Self-propelled Howitzer of B Battery, 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (1 RHA) in Bosnia serving with the Implementation Force (IFOR) in Summer 1996. 1 RHA was the first artillery unit to be equipped with the AS 90 gun in 1993. The vehicle is painted in the standard black and dark green camouflage pattern of the British Army. Note the Battery badge, IFOR letters and coalition forces inverted V sign.

22

With its elevation ranging between -89mils and 1244mils (_50 to +70), with standard ammunition the AS 90 can achieve a range of 24. tkm (15 miles). Here a gun of 88 (Arracan) Battery, 4th Regiment Royal Artillery is in a firing position south of Banja Luka with SFOR in April 1997. Note that the gun position is made out of Hesco Bastion Concertainer Defence Wall pieces, which provide protection for the gun against splinters of all calibers, as well as fire from weapons up to 30mm cannons. (Carl Schulze)

This rear view of an AS 90 of the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery illustrates

-s lack of stabilization spades. The modern recoil and suspension system - ::he gun allows it to fire without stabilization spades throughout a full 360 0 =:: . This allows the gun to switch targets without moving from its position, -~king the AS 90 ideally suited to provide artillery fire support in a fluid ~:"Je. The photo was taken in April 1997 south of Banja Luka when the o-;·ment provided artillery support for MND SW of SFOR. (Carl Schulze)

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I( FOR ;, ..': ,h ullits werG GIGlliGllfs rJ " ra;eliice. (eMI SclilJlzG)

Irrd hy British tmojJs GlltGrGrJ l(osr.,lIr., 8nrJ rl':!5tr.,rGrJ ()GeCG ill lliG cMI wM-sh8/(Gn prr.,lIillCG r.,f \'ugr.,slellk Among thG 4th If-GgimGnt ROy81 ArtillG/Y HGrG en AS .90 from tli8t unit t8kl':!, U{) e Jjositioll of rJGlGrrGncG in tl;G SGrlj-r)oliiimtGo' town

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23

"Fire I" A battery of AS 90s engages targets during Exercise "Sheldrik Sword 2000" on the Bergen Hohne ranges in Germany The guns can be seeli

a so-called battery tight position, meaning that all guns of a battery are deployed in a close area with a minimum distance of 50 meters (55 yards)

betwe~­

two guns. This is the usual type of firing position of the British artillery since as it allows easy re-supply of the guns with ammunition, is easy to defend, allows wire communication, thereby limiting radio emissions. (Carl Schulze)

<3-_

One tactic used by British artillery units equipped with AS 90 self-propelled howitzers is to operate within a dispersed position. In such a position L guns of a battery operate in pairs, each pair being given an area of 1km by 1km in which the guns practice fire and maneuver. This tactic is mainly used whs­ there is a high threat of counter battery fire; constantly moving guns spread over a square kilometer are hard for any enemy to find and destroy (Carl Schulz"

Po wered by a Cummins VTA 903T 660 diesel engine, which is - l nected to a ZF LSG 2000 fully automatic transmission, the AS 90 02.1 achieve a top speed of 55km (34 mph). When traveling cross­ "":J ntry, twelve externally mounted hydrogas-suspension units give . s vehicle a progressive rate of springing, powerful damping on ~ ery wheel station and a very smooth ride, enabling high average ~ 5eds to be maintained across bumpy terrain. (Carl Schulze)

Units equipped with the AS 90 can fire off the line of march if the situation requires it. Here an AS 90 has quickly taken up a firing position after receiving a firing order during the march of the gun battery to a new position. The sophisticated fire control system, which incorporates the Autonomous navigation and Gun Laying System (AGLS), gives the AS 90 its ability to fire from unprepared positions. The pictured gun belongs to the 26th Regiment Royal Artillery (Carl Schulze)

Belonging to 16 Battery (Sandham 's Company) of the 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, this AS 90 was photographed during Exercise "Ulan Barbara 2000" =oland. "Ulan Barbara 2000" saw the largest AS 90 concentration of the British Army since the introduction of the weapon system. The guns of three =-; ents, namely 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, 4th Regiment Royal Artillery and 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, were deployed for the exercise. (Carl _.-- ulze)

This front view of an AS 90 from the 26th Regiment Royal Artillery gives a good view of the large double-baffle muzzle brake. The AS 90's 39-calibc ' barrel is also fitted with a fume extractor. Note the red and blue regimental badge featuring the number "26" in a black circle. (Carl Schulze)

Battery badge of 36 (Arcot) Battery of the 40th Regiment Royal Artillery. (Ca rl Schulze)

Regimental badge of the 40th Regiment Royal Artillery as it appears on the regiment's AS 90s. (Carl Schulze)

26

Battery badge of 137 (Java, Battery of the 40th Regiment Roya. Artillery seen on the battery's AS 90s. (Carl Schulze)

AS 90s of C Battery, 3rd : ~; jment Royal Horse Artillery are . -oj up ready to be moved onto a ..., - at Drawsko Pomorski station -~ . the completion of Exercise _ ::.1 Barbara 2000." Note the "e" , -fed on the barrel clamp. Guns of 3."ttery (Sidi Rezegh) can be -" -{iified by a painted ''J'', while 0 ':"o:-sry's guns have a "0" painted on -0 ::arrel clamp. (Carl Schulze)

Battery badge of 52 (Niagara) .=. -o:ry, 4th Regiment Royal - SfY: (Carl Schulze)

~" ttery

badge of 97 Battery oJn's Company) of the 4th ,,::.; -ent Royal Artillery: (Carl

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_ze)

During Exercise "Ulan Eagle 2000," an AS 90 of 16 Battery (Sandham's Company) of the 26th Regiment Royal Artillery fords a river at the Drawsko Pomorski training area. The AS 90 has a fording capacity of up to 1500mm (5 feet), which means shallow rivers and streams can be crossed without the engineers having to build a bridge. (Carl Schulze)

of 3/29 Battery badge (Corunna) Battery of the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery: (Carl Schulze)

Battery badge of 16 Battery (Sandham's Company) of the 26th Regiment Royal Artillery. (Carl Schulze)

27

Battery badge of 127 (Dragon) Battery of the 26th Regiment Royal Artillery: (Carl Schulze)

The po ~ ·.~ ­ consisting of Cummins VTA -" 660 90-degree four-stroke, cooled diesel :; - ~ and the ZF LSG .: fully aUiC­ transmission wii ­ forward and reverse gears ~­ changed in less one hour. Schulze)

After the conclusion of Exercise "Ulan Barbara 2000" in Poland, AS 90s of the 1st (UK) Armoured Division approach the Drawsko Pomorski station where they will be loaded onto trains for their return trip to their bases in Germany The "IV" on a red and blue diamond on the right side of the hull identifies the first gun as one belonging to the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery In fact, all guns belong to the regiment's 3/29 (Corunna) Battery (Carl Schulze)

An AS 90 of --,. 3rd Regiment Rc!= Horse Artillery chanf ; position du(-; Exercise "Ulan Ea; ­ 2000." Note that ,--.0 driver, commander 2-':' one of the loaders c? driving in the "head 0"­ position. The loader :­ the left side of ,-:, vehicle is manning if": roof-mounted 7.62rr­ GPMG, which is us=-= to protect the vehic: against a ttackir ; infantry and aircra ­ (Carl Schulze)

After its running ;=ar was seriously :3.maged during =-,wcise "Ulan Eagle : :00," an AS 90 of the : ' j Regiment Royal Artillery is - )rse : 'agged to the train -~ tion with its right ::ck missing. Towing is - ;10rmed by the =;;iment's REME - ; !achment, which : erates a Chieftain - '71oured Repair and ~ ; covery Vehicle - 'iRV). (Carl Schulze)

With a weight of 45 tons, a length of 9913mm (32.5 feet), a width of 3430mm (11 feet) , and a height of 3020mm (10 feet), the AS 90 can easily be loaded and transported by rail. Here crewmembers from the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery secure their AS 90s so they will not slide on the train carriages. (Carl Schulze)

AS 90s of the 3rd ment Royal Horse - ery make their way the Drawsko =. -orski station during =- ~ 'cise "Ulan Eagle _ : J. " Note the warning - mounted for traffic­ .;: ;:y purposes on the - s;. (Carl Schulze) ~ =;

Battery badge of 88 (Arracan) Battery of the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery (Carl Schulze)

During an advance-to-contact operation conducted by a British armored battle group, the Challenger 2 main battle tanks ::­ Warrior armored infantry fighting vehicles are closely followed by the guns of the supporting AS 90-equipped artillery unit. 1. ;;. dispersed positions, the guns operate in pairs, one ready to fire and the other following the combat troops. This makes arc-"c support available at any time. Here a gun from the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is seen during an advance-to-co;.2 operation. The crew has just chosen a firing position and is preparing to support the leading troops with a three-round burst. :~ Schulze)

Because artillery positions are located only a few kilometers behind the FEBA, there is a constant threat that enemy ground forces, including armL-'" vehicles, will break through the own forces' defenses and attack the gun positions. To counter this threat, the guns of a battery, which are deployed in a :;­ position, have an alternative position for anti-tank purposes. In this case, the crew of the AS 90 will use the direct-fire capabilities of the gun by firing ­ rounds. Using the optical day/night anti-tank sight in direct firing, targets can be engaged at a minimum range of 600m (656 yards) and up to 2000m (:C' . yards). This photo shows an AS 90 of the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery that has hastily taken up an anti-tank position aiming directly at an en~' ­ reconnaissance vehicle during Exercise "Ulan Eagle 2000." Note the open anti-tank sight visible on the elevating mass. (Carl Schulze)

~fter an AS 90 of 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery has taken its position, four of the five crew members hastily camouflage their position. The fifth c-;ember most certainly is listening to the radio in order to warn the rest of the crew in the event of a fire mission. Speed is essential in modern artillery =-= :ions because the targets usually change their positions on the battlefield quickly In addition, enemy surveillance can rapidly locate a gun position after ; so positions are changed after every mission. (Carl Schulze)

In August 2001, the artillery component of MNB (C) of KFOR in Kosovo was provided by the 40th Regiment Royal Artillery Here an AS 90 of the regiment is seen at the unit's base near Podujevo. Because the KFOR deployment was a peace-support and peace-keeping mission, the gunners seldom used their AS 90s. They mainly performed patrols in the infantry role. However, the British Army also deploys eight AS 90s to Kosovo along with the gunners of a regiment. (Carl Schulze)

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AS 90 of 137 (Java) Battery of the 40th Regiment Royal

=JY at the regimental base near Podujevo during its -- ,'Vment with KFOR in Kosovo in August 2001. The 40th :=:; - ent recruits mainly in the Lowlands of Scot/and, so the -ent carries the nickname "Lowland Gunners." (Carl

-..:-:-'

_

31

__

.. ..--._. ._--

Six of the seventeen rounds stored in the fighting compartment are stored in brackets on the left side next to the large rear door. Here five rounds of the L 20 ERBS Bomblet-type ammunition can be seen stored in this position. The round tubes behind the rounds are charge containers, which are situated all over in the fighting compartment to hold the charges. (Carl Schulze)

Six of the seventeen rounds stored in the fighting compartmer; =: stored in brackets on the right side next to the large rear door. Hers rounds can be seen stored in this position. The light colored rounds ar= ': 106 illumination rounds, while the olive colored rounds are L 21 HE ro _ (Carl Schulze)

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The US M 109 selfpropelled howitzer series is the most widely used armored artillery weapon system in the world. The M109 was originally produced by BMY, York USA. Its design and technology are based on the efforts from the 1950s. By the 1990s, the general conception of the well-proven M109 series was seen to have many shortcomings. The range of the gun, reliability, protection, firepower, NBC protection, fire rate, and fire control capabilities of the aged M109 versions became obsolete by the end of the 20th century. In order to upgrade and update the well-proven M109 concept, in 1984 the US Army Howitzer began the Improvement Program (HIP). The aged M109 fleet variants needed to be modernized to face the threats of the modern battlefield.

Development and Introduction In the US Army's conception, the M 109 self­ propelled howitzer provides fire support to the heavy divisions and cavalry regiments. To close the gap between the M 109A21 A3 series and the future CRUSADER project, a wide range of modernization measures were necessary. Howitzer During the Improvement Program (HIP), eight trial vehicles were developed: six for the US Army and two for the Israeli army. In contrast to the German PzH 2000, the M109A6 Paladin is not exactly a newly developed weapon system. The Paladin program is the third and most far-reaching improvement of the M109. Old A2 and A3 series hulls were combined with a newly designed turret. The trial vehicles, which were known by the code number "M109A3E6," were intensively tested from September 1988 to February 1989.

In 1984, the US Army began the Howitzer Improvement Program (HIP) a replacement for the aged M109A21A3 self-propelled howitzer. In ·:7. the two artillery battalions under order of 1st US 10, 1-7 FA and 1-6 -. \Vere equipped with the new M109A6 Paladin. The two battalions were -=.:-uctured and ready for combat after intensive gunnery practice at the - -= '9nwohr training range. (Walter Bohm) ~7d

The first troop trials were held beginning in May 1989 at Fort Sill, USA. After successful troop trials, the US Army decided to proceed with mass production. The vehicle was standardized as Self-Propelled Howitzer

33

MI09A6 "Paladin." An initial batch of 164 M109A6 Paladin was produced until 1994. The Army also contracted for the moderni zation of 60 old MI09 howitzers to bring them up to the Ml09A6 standard. By the end of 1999, the US Army ordered a total of 950 M109A6 Paladin systems and 927 M992 FAASV ammunition carriers.

National Guard units have been re-equipped with the M109A6 well.

howitze~

Although there were some presentations and demonstrations to s' off the new M109A6 Paladin, there were no foreign customers until 2 In view of the higher firepower of the Paladin system, the US k;' reduced the number of guns from 24 MI09A2S down to 18 MI a;:: Paladins in one artillery battalion. There are still three firing batterie5. now they only have six guns instead of eight as in the past.

By 1997, the first two at1illery battalions of 1st US Infantry Division (lst US 10), named 1-7 Field Artillery (FA) and 1-6 FA, had re-equipped and restructured with the M109A6 Paladin weapon system. The units showed combat readiness during gunnery practice at Grafenwohr training area. Later the artillery units of I st US Armored Division (l st US AD), the 2-3 FA and the 4-27 FA, received their Paladins. Since 1999, the US

Hull and Turret Similar to the hull and turret of the well-known M113APC, tho;.

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Old became new! The Paladin is manufactured by United Defense LP On the production line, old hulls from vehicles of the A2 and A3 series overhauled and upgraded, then fitted with the newly constructed turrets. By the end of 2001 , United Defense LP had delivered 950 M109A6 Paladin an: M992A2 FAASV ammunition carriers to the US Army. (Walter Bohm)

The new Paladin turret is of totally new construction. Like the h_ welded with aluminum plates and reinforced by armored steel plates. E here are the M182A 1 gun mount and the support for the M117A2 peri­ (Walter Bohm)

"Mobility" The old A2 and A3 hulls were upgraded with new torsion bars, hydropneumatic suspensions and a new powerpack with 440PS, which increased their mobility and agility remarkably (Walter Bohm)

34

~.

IIiew of the new commander's cupola with the modified mount for the ::3.1.50 machine gun. Between the two crewmen is the caller of the ": 3'S air conditioner and the NBC cleaning system. (Walter Bohm) ~ I 09A 6

Paladin are manufactured a welded construction of .. urn plates. Important areas are '"":' ~ed with armored steel plates. ,,:'ter the fusion of FMC and in to the United Defense LP, the built Paladin turrets were _:;!d at Letterkenny Army Depot. ~ge d M 109 hulls were totally --.:iuled and modernized. As main , of the Paladin improvement .,-J lTI. the following components . Jpgraded: ::. assis - The chassis got new __ torsion bars and a - . neumatic suspension. As a '. the vehicle has better agility and ' ity in combination with the ___ Je d turbo-charged, 8-cy linder, - ::esel engine with 440PS/329KW ;'j re Control System - Also __ l ed was the fully automatic fire :-~i system and the new navigation ~;ll that can find a vehicle's ~ ~ _l1 ates for automatically operated _y ing to the targets. The _: Digital communications sys tem _cs better communication with ::'-e control center. To this end the .. 0: is fitted with two ANNRC-89 --GARS (S ingle Channel Ground .-',.irborne Radio System) ; these , are interception safe and can ':J l1sfer digital data. 3arrel - The barrel travel lock is :e ly operated from the driver' s :. n and can be locked and _ked within seconds while the Jne of the Paladin's characteristic _-es is the extreme elellation of the - .'Ihich can be adjusted up to + 75 -; '3es. This is a M109A6 Paladin of : Bn, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment ~: seen near the town of Kusel, any during Exercise "Rolling Steel Walter Bohm)

The main armament of the Paladin is the M284 155mm gun, which is fitted on the M182A 1 gun mount. With standard projectiles, the range of the M284 gun is up to 24 kilometers (15 miles). With Rocket Assisted Projectiles (RAP), the range is up to 30 km (19 miles). (Walter Bohm)

~

M 109A6 Paladin, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Kosovo 1999 M109A6 Paladin Self-propelled Howitzer of the 4th Battalion , 27th Field Artillery Regiment of the 1st Armored Division "Old Ironsides" c Operation "Joint Guardian" in Kosovo in June 1999. In Kosovo the guns were seldom used and most fire missions of the guns used illumir :::­ rounds in order to support troops on the ground. This M 109A6 is painted in the standard NATO three color camouflage pattern consisf - ~ bronze green, leather brown and tar black, intro duced by the US Army in 1984.

howitzer is being dti ven in the filing position. The driver's sights are supported by the ANIVVS-2 night sight for night driving during depl oyment or attack operations. For better NBC protection of the crew and a better climate inside the crew companment, a Micro Climate Conditi oning System (MCS) has been installed. The MCS provides clean and c limali zed air to the crew 's m asks and vests.

gun mount. The new M284 155mm L39 gu n is based on the MI85 1 ~= gun . The range of the Palad in's M284 gun is up to 24 kilometers (1 5 0:;;' using standard projectiles. Because of the upgrading and modern i?' measures, the vehic le's weight increased from 25 tons (M109A2 tons (M 109A6 Palad in).

The inside of the hull and turret is covered with Kevlar liners that offer more protection against anill ery fragm ents and bomblet ammunition. In addition, a new 650amp alterna tor feeds th e board computers. Also, additional stowage baskets for the crew's gear and baggage were mounted on the rear of the tunet.

The M 109A6 Paladin carries 37 standard 155mm projectile' Copperhead projectiles and 44 charges in storage rack s. The Paladr­ no automatic shell-loading device like the Germ an PzH 2000, ; loaders must handle the projec tiles and charges man uall y. The range M284 gun is up to 24 kil ometers (15 miles) with standard projectiJ:", up to 30 kilometers (1 9 miles) with the Rocket Assisted Proj ectile I The firefight is largely automatic, supported by the balli stic fire c computer.

Ammunitiog

The most important element is the spaci ous tunet with the M1 82A I

Under good conditions, the rate of fire can be increased for minutes up to four rounds per minute; the nonn al rate of fire is one ­ pe r minute. The Paladin can fire a wide range of different ammuniticr as HE (High Explosive), HE-VT (Hi gh Explosive, Variable Ti m (White Phosphorou s) , FASCAM (Family of Scatte rable ~ I Copperhead laser-guided projecti les, and the so-called "Jabbef\_ rounds that are fitted with a radio jammer. For air defense, a .50-caliber machine gun is pintle-mounted ­ front of the commander's hatch. For self-protection against ­ armored vehicles , th e crew has three AT-4 anti-tank missiles in the \ _

Summal'v The M 109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer has the capab: fulfill the Army 's requirements for the next ten years. At that ti newl y de signed CRUSADER Advanced Field Artillery Syste­ replace the M 109 weapon sys tem.

The driver's pOSition was also redesigned. An ANNVS-2 night vision sight can befitted onto the driver's periscope to assist him during night driving and change-of-position missions. (Walter 8ohm)

36

'.

The Allison Transmission XTG-411-4A offers four forward and two - :: -se gears. The maximum vertical obstacle height for the Paladin is 0.53 - "s (21 inches). The maximum trench width is 1.83 meters (6 feet). The . g capability is up to 1.05 meters (3.5 feet) without preparation. (Ralph ng)

The M109A6 turret is fully traversable. During fire missions, the turret should only be traversed a maximum of 30 degrees left or right from the centerline to protect the chassis against the gun's recoil. (Walter Bohm) Sign of 2nd Bn, 3rd Artillery Regiment Cc_nners." (Walter Bohm)

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A Paladin platoon -:ves into position near :,mdahlen, Germany .ring Exercise "Rolling -gel 99." A Paladin --= flalion is composed of a -?adquarterslHeadquarters ,,=ttery (HHB), three _=nlical firing batteries (A, : C Battery), and a service =lIery (Walter Bohm)

The firing battery is divided into two firing platoons. Each has a firing platoon headquarters and a Fire Direction Center (FDC) based on a M5r ­ Command Post vehicle, as well as three Paladin firing sections with a M109A6 and a M992A2. Pictured here is a firing section of C Battery, 2nd Bn, 3rd F=. Artillery Regiment during a winter exercise in February 1999 near SchOffengrund, Giessen, Germany. (Walter Bohm)

To reduce the width ofthe M109A6 Paladin when operating in wooe " or urban areas, its turret baskets can be folded backwards. (Walter Bor ­

Thanks to its upgraded chassis and suspension, the M109A6 Paladin no longer needs manually operated spades to stabilize the vehicle when firing. But they are still mounted at the rear of the hull for use when the hydropneumatic suspension fails or additional stabilization is necessary on swampy ground. Notice the missing left turret basket. The tactical markings on the turret identify the vehicle as belonging to 1st US 10, 1-7 FA, C Battery, 1st Platoon, 3rd Firing Section. (Walter Bohm)

'Shoot and scoot." In contrast to the the tactical requirements were changed to me'er·iUl9. . : 'ar apart, move quickly to the firing position.

on proven components. can operate independently B6hm)

"1st US 10 OIV ARTY." The division artillery of 1st US Infantry Division is based in Bamberg. Germany. It is made up of three field artillery battalions _Dped with the M109A6 Paladin: 1-5 Field Artillery Rgt. based in Fort Riley, USA; 1-6 Field Artillery Rgt. based in Bamberg, Germany; and 1-7 Field Artillery ~-;- based in Schweinfurt, Germany. The 1-33 Field Artillery Rgt., which has one MLRS battalion, completes the 1st US 10 OIV ARTY. (Ralph Zwilling)

:,;.;.

"1st US AD DIV ARTY" The division artillery of 1st US Armored Division is based in Germany, too. It is made up of three field artillery battalions equip:s. with the Paladin system: 2-3 Field Artillery Rgt. based in Giessen, Germany; 4-27 Field Artillery Rgt. based in 8aumholder. Germany; and 4-1 Field Arti/;,. Rgt. based in Fort Riley, USA. The 1-94 Field Artillery Rgt.(MLRS), which is based in 8aumholder, Germany, completes the 1st US AD DIV ARTY (We '" 8ohm)

The Platoon Operation Center (POC on a M577A2) distributes the fire orders and targets to the M109A6 Paladin via the SINCGARS (Single Charr-· Ground and Airborne Radio) ANNIC -3(v)-6 radios. The fire order contains the kind of ammunition and fuse, as well as the message whether the crew when recu;iv bE"wait for a firing order from the POe. (Walter 8ohm)

The fire procedure is largely automatic, supported by the vehicle's mounted ballistic fire control computer. This independent Automatic Fire Control . "'3:em (AFCS) has three main components: The ballistic fire control computer, the Muzzle Velocity System (MVS), and the GPS-based navigation system ! PS). These components check all data, set own position, and bring turret and gun barrel into the right position and elevation. (Walter 86hm)

.

To stabilize the heavy gun barrel during driving, the Paladin with an automatic, remote-controlled barrel travel lock. It - ,J longer necessary to leave the vehicle to unfasten and fold . ,n the barrel lock. (Walter 86hm) ~1ed

The largely automatically operated fire mission procedure makes it possible for the first round to leave the howitzer just 60 seconds after the fire data has been transferred from the POC to the Paladin howitzer. Each Paladin can operate fully independently from other howitzers. (Ralph Zwilling)

At a Forward Ammunition Point (FAP), here at Training;' ::.. at Grafenwohr, Germany, a M109A6 is supplied with 155~ ammunition. The projectiles were transported by a HE!. M1074 PLS truck to the FAP The howitzers seen here belo--; to the "Bull Dogs" of B Battery, 2nd Bn, 3rd Field Artiii=.­ Regiment. In the event of war or crisis, this unit is under orde­ 1st Ready Brigade Combat Team, 1st US AD (Walter Bohrr

UT1DIY1SG . 15C, AIJ.OI I.. STOICU

Emblem of Bravo Battery (Bull Dogs), 2nd Bn, 3rd Field Artillery Rgt. (Walter Bohm)

The M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer can fire a wide range of different types of 155 ammunition.' HE (High Explosive), HE-VT (High Explosive, Variable Time) , WP (~' Phosphorous), projectiles with scatterable mines of the FASCAM series, and laser-gu,:..::. "Copperhead" projectiles. (Walter Bohm)

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I



I

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To make rearming easier and faster for artillery troops, the US Army ordered the M992A2 FAASV special vehicle for supporting the M109 howitzer. To move the rounds from the M992A2 (nickname: "CAT'J to the M109A6, the vehicles are positioned back to back. By means of a conveyor belt, eight rounds per minute can be transferred over to the Paladin's ammunition racks. In the US Army today, each M109A6 in the Paladin­ equipped field artillery battalions are paired up with a M992A2 FAASV for ammunition transport. These two vehicles work together as the Firing Section. (Walter Bohm)

"CAT." The chassis of the M992A2 FAASV (Forward Arti: " Ammunition Supply Vehicle) is largely identical to the M109A2 chassis. ­ turret was replaced by an armored hull based on aluminum plates. - . provides protection for the crew and the ammunition against small arms =-.. and artillery fragments. The M992A2 FAASV can carry 93 155--­ projectiles, 99 charges and 104 fuses, enough to completely rear« M109A6 Paladin three times. (Walter Bohm)

42

On streets, the M109A6 Paladin can reach a speed 64kmlh (40 mph). It has a range up to 351 kilometers (218 miles), depending on the terrain and conditions. After all the upgradings, the M109A6 now has a combat weight of 29 tons. The power-to-weight ratio is 15.25hplton. (Walter Bohm)

"First Lightning." During exercises in case of war or crisis, the M109A6 :;aladins of 1st Bn, 7th Field Artillery 19t. support the combat units of 2nd J agger Brigade Combat Team of 1st J S 10, which is based in Schweinfurt, ]ermany. The 1-7 FA, nicknamed "First _Ightning," was founded in 1916 during '/orld War One and later participated in overy important US Army operation up :J the present. (Walter Bohm) ~r

A Paladin from 4th Bn, 27th Field Artillery Rgt. is refueled on a forest path near Trier, Germany during Exercise "Rolling Steel 99." The Paladin has a fuel capacity of 504 liters (133 gallons) of diesel fuel. (Walter Bohm)

43

The deployment of Paladin artii o­ battalions over far distances supported by trains of the Gerrr, Bundesbahn. In 1-7 FA, it is commor paint the name of the vehic " commander and driver on the left c­ right front mud flaps. (Walter Bohm)

A M109A6 Paladin of 4th Bn, 27th FA. 1st US AD crosses the Mosel River on a Ribbon bridge from the 130th Engineer Brigade during Exercise "Rolling Steel 99." The design of the Russian 2S3 self-propelled howitzer is very similar to the concept and design of the proven US M109 series. Today the Chinese company NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation) produces a detailed copy of the US M109. This Chinese howitzer can also use a wide range of standard NATO 155mm ammunition. (Walter B6hm)

The future of the US Army S~ propelled howitzer is the CRUSAO='= Advanced Field Artillery System. l ­ the first CRUSADER leaves : - ~ production line, the M109A6 Paladin - ~ enough growth potential to fulfill : ' ­ Army's requirements for the next :0­ years. (Walter Bohm)

The development of the French ISSmm Grand Cadence de Tir (GeT) -,UF-l self-propelled howitzer began in the late 1960s. However, the : ::hnology for the ISSmm GeT AUF-I was well advanced. The gun can ..t considered the first Western self-propelled howitzer to employ a orking automatic loading system. It therefore requires a limited crew of illy four gunners. Today, the 1SSmm GeT AUF-l is combat-proven, and .., manufacturer GIAT Industries just began to offer the gun with a longer -lITel and sophisticated fire control electronics that will enhance the range :' the gun.

Of the 273 total guns delivered to the French Army, 94 are the upgraded I SSmm GeT AUF-I T version that features a stronger auxiliary power unit and a new, more reliable automatic loading system. While the other 179 I SSmm GeT AUF-l were produced between 1979 and 1988, these 94 upgraded 1SSmm guns were produced between 1988 and 1996. French ISSmm GeT AUF-I guns first saw operational action dUling the 1995 crisis in Bosnia, when a battery of guns of the 40eme Regiment d'Artillerie took up positions on Mount Igman and fired at Serb positions around Sarajevo.

Oev('lopmcnt Histon The development of the ISSmm Grand Cadence de Tir began in 1969 ith the goal of meeting the French requirements for a new self-propelled . witzer in order to replace the older 1OSmm AMX 13 and the ISSmm Mk =3 self-propelled howitzer. Rather than concentrating on constructing a . Jmp letely new vehicle, GIAT Industries simply designed an artillery .-lITet that could be mounted on an existing main battle tank chassis. In 972, the first GeT turret prototype was completed, and in 1973 it was lown to the public for the first time on the SATORY defense exhibition, l ounted on an AMX 30 chassis. A second prototype rurret was mounted n a Leopard I chassis for trials that same year. In 1974, ATS Roanne :oday part of GIAT Industries) built six pre-production-series vehicles . ' sed on the AMX 30 chassis. After intensive trials, the ISSmm GeT ; UF-I (as the gun is called in the French Army) was officially selected for :rvice in July 1979. However, the series production had already begun in 977, and the first production vehicles were delivered to Saudi Arabia.

'ehirle Description Although the turret of the ISSmm GeT AUF-l self-propelled howitzer can be mounted on most main battle tank chass is, it is currently in use only on the French-made AMX 30 main battle tank chassis. The hull remained nearly identical to that of the MBT, except that the ammunition storage racks have been removed and a 28V generator has been added, along with a ventilator system that supplies the turret with fresh air. In total, the chassis is two tons lighter that that of the original AMX 30 MBT. Of the four-man crew, only the dliver works in the chassis, where he is seated at the front left. He can enter and leave his position through a single­ piece hatch. Three periscopes mounted in front of the hatch allow the howitzer to be driven with the hatch closed. The center periscope can be changed into a night vision device to allow for night driving. The ISSmm GeT AUF-l turret is mounted in the center of the chassis similarly to the MBT turret.

In Feb.ruary 1996, this 155mm GCT AUF-1 of the 40eme Regiment d'Artilierie was seen on Mount Igman in Bosnia. Clearly visible is the AMX 30 main :attle tank chassis on which the 155mm GCT AUF-1 turret was mounted. This provided the French Army with a modern but cost-effective self-propelled -:Jwitzer for which the logistics,such as spare part supply and trained maintenance personnel, were already available since the AMX 30 main battle tank ~ 'ready served as a weapon system. GIAT Industries claims that, in addition to the AMX 30 chassis, the 155mm GCT AUF-1 turret can also be mounted on --72, Leopard, and other MBT chassis. (Carl Schulze)

Nicknamed "Alencon, " this 155mm GCT AUF-1 belongs to the 40eme Regiment d'Artillerie and was photographed in February 1996 on Mount Igman. Together with a second gun nicknamed "Courcelles," it was this gun that silenced a Serb mortar position on 22 August 1995 at 0840 local, firing a total of six rounds. The fire was a reaction to a Serb mortar attack on a UN post manned by Egyptian peacekeepers that injured six peacekeepers and killed and wounded several civilians. In fact, this demonstration of firepower was only an overture. On 30 August NATO unleashed massive fire onto Serb positions around Sarajevo during Operation "Deliberate Force," which eventually led to the Dayton peace agreement. Again the 155mm GCT AUF­ 1 of the 40eme Regiment d'Artilierie took part in the operation, pulverizing Serb positions with accurate fire. This picture was taken in February 1996, when the eight guns deployed to Bosnia were still based on Mount Igman. (Carl Schulze)

Here 155mm GCT AUF-1 guns of the 40eme Regiment d'Art i ll~~ undergo a maintenance session conducted by personnel of the regimer­ February 1996 at the unit's base close to the Olympia Hotel on Me Igman. (Carl Schulze)

Mounted in the rear of the chassis is the Hispano-Suiza HS L10 v. ~L;: cooled, superch arged, 12-cylinder, multi-fuel engine connected !c mechanical transmission with five forward and five reverse gears. 1 tran smission inco rporates a centrifugal-type automatic clutch, a gearr and steering unit combination, the brakes, and the fin al drives. The tra,. are powered via the rear-mounted drive sprockets. The AMX 30 chas running gear consists of five road wheels and three return rollers, as \\ . as a front idler and drive sprocket on each side. A torsion bar syster offered as a suspension system, and the first and last road wheel on e side is titted with a hydraulic shock absorber. The steel track of the ven: . has 83 links and changeable rubber pads. Due to the recoil system of ' 155mm GCT AUF-l g un , no spades are needed to secure the gUll position, so no such eq uipmen t is mounted to the rear of the gun. F chassis and turret of the 155mm GCT AUF-l self-propelled howitze~ made of all-welded steel that provides the crew with protection agai small arms fire and splinters from 155mm artillery rounds. Additional battlefield protection is provided by an NBC protect' system that allows the crew to condu ct fire missions under l\ E conditions. Inside the turret the co mmander and the layer are seated to right whi le the loader is placed on the left. Situated between them is breech of the 155m m 40-caliber ordnance, while the magazine is foun d the rear of the turret. The breechblock of the gu n is the sliding vert i __ wedge type that is hermetically sealed. Mounted on the banel is a dou b .. baffle muzzle brake. Elevation (-4° to +66°) and turret traverse (360' achieved hydraulicall y with a speed of 10° per second . The .inertial ~

=

=­

The AMX 30 chassis of the 155mm GCT AUF-1 is powered b.l Hispano-Suiza HS 110 water-cooled, supercharged, 12-cylinder, multi-t oE engine that is connected to a mechanical transmission with five forward i3.-, five reverse gears. The transmission incorporates a centrifugal-t}'::", automatic clutch, a gearbox and steering unit combination , the brakes, i3.­ the final drives. (Carl Schulze)

Mounted next to the hatch of the loader on the turret roof is a .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun, which is used for air defense or the protection of the gun position when it is attacked on the ground. Behind the loader, the 40­ caliber barrel points in the direction of former Serb positions around Sarajevo. The photo was taken on Mount Igman in February 1996. (Carl Schulze)

A look into the commander's position of a 155mm GCT AUF-1 :810nging to the 40eme Regiment d'Artillerie. Even though the turret looks 3rge from the outside, the space for the commander, gunner and loader is :Jamped; the 155mm gun, the automatic loader and the magazine holding ! 2 rounds and cartridge cases take up a lot of space. Here the commander onters a fire command into the gun's computerized fire control system. (Carl ochulze)

.ontrol system of the 155mm GeT AUF-l is coupled to an autonomous ,..lnd navigation system that uses an optical goniometer (direction finder) :::lOunted in the turret. Later versions of the GeT AUF-l are fitted with -_'ITA 20 system that consists of a land navigation system coupled with the ;yroscope. For direct firing and anti-tank operations, the gun is fitted with ~n optical direct fire sight. Loading is done via the automatic loader. It is possible to choose :-etween the valious types of ammunition stored in the seven racks by ::leans of a control panel situated at the loader's position. With the _utomatic loader, which can be used at every elevation of the gun, up to :ight rounds can be fired in a minute. However, due to the barrel heat the ~rench Army usually fires bursts of six rounds in 45 seconds or two to .!lree rounds a minute when the gun is operated in the sustained-fire role. -:1 addition to automatic loading, manual loading is possible in case there ..3 a technical problem with the automatic loading system. Situated on each Ide of the turret is an access door that leads to the fighting compartment. -:-wo large hatches at the rear can be folded down to provide access to the -:lagazine. Through this the magazine is reloaded, which holds a total of 42 "0unds and cartridge cases in seven racks, each holding six rounds of the arne type, and seven racks holding six cartridge cases.

The magazine of the 155mm GCT AUF-1 is situated in the rear of the turret. As many as 42 rounds and cartridge cases can be stored in the magazine, which is divided into seven racks, each holding six rounds of the same type, and seven racks holding six cartridge cases each. A typical combat load of the 155mm GCT AUF-1 might be 30 HE rounds, six smoke rounds and six illumination rounds. The gunner can select which type of ammunition he wants to fire on the control panel of the automatic loading system, and then the gun is loaded automatically with the right type of rounds without any other preparation. In addition, the gunner can select between a single shot and a six-round burst. (Carl Schulze)

The crew can reload the gun with 42 rounds in 20 to 30 minutes. It is to reload the magazine while the gun is firing. The 155mm GeT \ UF-l can fire all 155mm NATO standard artillery shells, including f rojectiles of the French Model 56/59 and American M 107 series. Ammunition types include HE, illumination, smoke, and bomblet _mmunition, and base bleed ammunition is also available. Two smoke ~ossible

47

ji~('hargers

are mounted outside the tunet on the left and right sides of the

operational units of the French Army are equipped with the 155mm ( AUF-I: 40hne Regiment d'Artillerie (40eme RA) belonging to the : Brigade Motoris ee based in Charlons en Champagne Jer Regiment d'Artilierie d' Marin e (ler RAMa) belonging Ii) 2eme Brigade Blindee based in Orleans 68eme Regiment d'Artillerie d'Afrique (68eme RAA) belongi.J: ~ the 3eme Brigade Motorisee based in Limoges 3eme Regiment d'Artilierie d' Marine (3eme RAMa) belonging to 6eme Brigade Legere Blindee (light annored) based in Nimes 8eme Reg iment d'Artilierie (8eme RA) belonging to the -;, Brigade Blinc/iie based in Besancon

gun.

The GCT Artillerv ReeiOlents of the Armee de Terre In total , the French Annee de Terre (Army) received 273 155mm GCT .AUF-I self-propelled howitzers which, before the French anny changed from a conscription to a volunteer force , were distributed among 12 artillery regiments. Of these twelve artillery regiments only five artillelY regiments remained in the new French army structure. Today the following

Each of the above artillery regiments is divided into a HQ and log :' battery (Batterie de COl11mandement et Logistique), a tactical operal center battery (Batterie des Operations) and three equally structured ; batteries (Batteries de Combat). Each gun battery fields two gun group­ four 155mm GCT AUF-I and two AMX 10 VOA forward observ3l officer vehicles. In total, a French artillery regiment equipped with ; 155mm GCT AUF-I can field 24 guns. Currently, 120 guns are opera' within the French artillery regiments, with some being used at the artilk school in Draguignan. The remaining guns delivered to the French a are kept in depots as a war reserve.

Non-French GCT usel·~. GCT "ehide Emiution .. nel VRrianl~ In addition to being used by the French, the 155mm GCT AUF-l \,­ exported to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Curiously, Saudi Arabia \\ _ the first user to receive series production vehicles in 1978. In total, G1:-..­ Indusuies delivered 51 GCTs to that country. The fleet of 18 155mm Gr AUF-I s sent to Kuwait were mothballed at the time of writing. It is f . known what happened to the 86 155mm GCT AUF-Is that were delive r:>: to Iraq, but it is celtain that some were lost during the 1991 Gulf \\ .c: During th e Iraq-Iran War that took place between 1980 and 1988, 1:-. successfully used the firepower of the 155mm GCT AUF-I to stop seve::.. Iranian offensives.

Pictured from high ground, this 155mm GCT AUF-I belonging to the 408me Regiment d'Artillerie was spotted on Mount Igman in February 1996. Clearly visible is the commander's cupola, which is equipped with periscopes for all around observation, as well as the loader's cupola with its roof-mounted .50-caliber machine gun. Also visible are the driver's position with its three periscopes (the central one can be changed to a night driving device) and the open side door of the turret, a similar one of which is located on the opposite side. The white markings on the side of the turret belOW the name of the gun ("Alencon'') show that the gun has fired rounds in action. (Carl Schulze)

-Celles" is another 155mm GCT AUF-I of the 408me Regiment d'Artilierie that was seen on Mount Igman in February 1996. Note the crew-made storags :JE S.k:ets mounted on the front of the turret. Pictures in other publications show the baskets filled with logs of wood that serve as additional protection from Se rb mortar and artillery splinters. (Carl Schulze)

48

CT AU F-1, 40eme Regiment d'Artillerie, Bosnia 1996 This 155mm GCT AUF-1 belongs to 40eme Regiment d'Artillerie and was seen on Mount Igman, Bosnia in February 1996. During thot time 'l e regiment provided the French lead Multinational Division South-East (nicknamed "Salamandre") artillery support w ith its two batteries each :ith eight GCT AUF- 1. One battery was based on Mount Igman and the other north to Mostar, in this way the regiment was able to support units - the w hole area of responsibility of the division. This gun is called "Cellas", note the IFOR markings on the turret side.

The 155mm GCT AUF-L turret was shown mounted on a T-72 MBT .:lassis by GIAT Industries at several exhibitions of defense equipment, ~1 d it took part in the 1995 competition for the new Indian Army self· -ropelled howitzer. India planned to use the turrets with locally . anufactured T-72Ml or Arjun chassis, but a final decision was never :-lade, and in 1998 another competition without French contribution took -lace. From 2002 onward, GIAT Industries will upgrade 174 155mrn GCT ~ UF-I s of the French Army to the AUF-2 standard. Of these only 70 will -cceive the longer 155mm 52-caliber barrel. The I55mm GCT AUF-2 uses the same turret hull as the AUF-l, but -: atures a number of improvements: a L55mm 52-caliber barrel that creases the range of the gun to 42km (26 milesTwith base-bleed shells !nd allows 10 rounds to be fired in one minute; an elevation range that is 'lcreased to +70°; Multi Round Simultaneous Impact (MRS I) capability; _ modified recoil system; a new breech mechanism; a new double-baffle 'luzzle brake; a Thomson-CSF ATLAS computerized internal fire control .-stem coupled to an autonomous land navigation system for greater target _2c uracy and higher mission speed; ammunition storage of 42 shells, 180 op charge modules and 20 bottom charge modules; a new powerpack _Dnsisting of a Renault Mack E9 diesel coupled with an ENC 200 .::ansmission; and upgraded suspension for improved cross-country ability. -. long with the upgrade package, it is expected that the French army will :Jtroduce a new modular artillery charge system also developed by GIAT :1dustries.

The last version of the gun, the 155mm GCT AUF-1 T, which is fitted with a land navigation system coupled with a gyroscope, allows the French artillery to conduct so-called raids d'Artilierie . During these operations a pair of two guns secretly infiltrates enemy-held territory until they reach a suitable firing position in range of their target. From there they open fire using the six­ round-burst capacity of the gun, then they quickly withdraw behind their own lines before enemy counter-battery fire can have any effect. (Yves Debay)

49

GeT AUF-Urom the 1er Regiment d'Artillerie de Marine ofthe 2eme Brigade Blindee over a water obstacle. - . d'Accompagnement self-propel/ed bridging system. (Yves Oebay)

:::

: - .=.3

Here a re-enforced gun crew is shown "bombing up" a 155mm GeT 4UF-1. In total, 42 rounds and cartridge cases can be stored in the turret 'llagazine. The magazine can also be reloaded while the gun is firing. The Jictured gun belonged to the 2eme Regiment d'Artillerie, which by now is jisbanded. Before the reorganization of the French Army, 12 artillery '9giments were equipped with the 155mm GeT AUF-1. Each of these '9giments fielded 20 guns that were divided among four firing batteries, Yves Debay)

This battery belonging to the 3eme Regiment d'Artilierie de Marine is on the march to a new position, The 155mm GeT AUF-1 chassis, which is basically that of the AMX 30 main battle tank, is powered by a Hispano-Suiza HS 110 water-cooled, ....-1 supercharged, 12­ cylinder, multi-fuel engine that develops ~~::iiiII 720hp at 2000rpm. This allows the gun to achieve a maximum road speed of 60kmlh (37mph). (Yves Debay)

The 155mm GeT AUF-1 self-propelled howitzer consists of the AMX 30 main battle tank and the 155mm GeT turret. The name AUF-1 is the official name used for the gun in the French Army. Visible in this photo is the 155mm 40-caliber barrel on which a double-baffle muzzle brake is mounted. Fitted to the barrel is a breechblock of the vertical wedge, sliding type that is hermetically gassealed to prevent powder fumes from entering the crew and compartment contaminating the crew's breathing air, (Yves Debay)

Based close ;: Canjeurs training 2 in southern France 3eme Regir .. d'Artillerie de Ma" supports the Fre­ school of artiller} Draguignan. HerE 155mm GCT Al = from that regimer : being guided into firing position durir:; demonstration. The;_ has a combat weigr ' 42 tons. The soldie' the foregro. ­ provides a gc reference for dimensions of the f -:­ The 155mm GCT Al -= 1 is 10250mm (3: feet) long, 3115,-­ (12.2 feet) wide E ­ 3250mm (10 .6 fec, high. (Yves Debay)

'\ ~

This rear view of 155mm GCT AUF-1s from the 2eme Regiment d'Artillerie, a unit which by now is disbanded, illustrates well the two large rear hatches that allow access to the magazine located in the turret. The turret mounted on the AMX 30 chassis is a curious looking sight, but with the 155mm GCT AUF-1 the French Army fields a modern artillery system that still has some growth potential. The first step will be the fitting of a 52-caliber barrel that will increase the effective range of the gun to 40km (25 miles). (Yves Debay)

Here half of , battery of 155mm GC' AUF-1 of the Frene-­ A rmy practices Ii\ ; firing at a training are" somewhere in France The 155mm GCT AUF· 1 is able to fire a si),­ round burst in on:' minute. This mean' that a full battery c eight guns is able i : deliver 48 shells, abol' 2 tons of steel an e a" explosives, to enemy target in OM minute at a distance c 24km (15 miles) . Whe" the 155mm GCT AUF 1 entered service witr the French Army ir 1979, it was the mos' advanced artiller) piece in the Wesf"5 inventory. (GIA­ Industries)

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